Powering the AI Buildout: Data Centers, Public Power, & Municipal Market
The data center and municipal utility nexus is one of the most consequential storylines in public power, and The Center on Municipal Capital
Powering the AI Buildout: Data Centers, Public Power, and the Municipal Market
Data centers are often discussed as a technology story, but they are also an important economic growth, energy, and public finance story. AI- and data center-related investment has become a meaningful part of U.S. economic growth estimates; but that growth comes with challenges. Utilities are facing some of the strongest electricity demand in decades, forcing difficult debates about affordability, reliability and infrastructure investment. As those debates move from boardrooms into state capitols and city halls, the municipal market may become an increasingly important source of financing for the infrastructure needed to support growth
Lineup
TBD
Tom Falcone
Tom Kozlik
Good to know
Highlights
- 3 hours
- In person
- Doors at 1:30 PM
Location
LBJ School of Public Affairs - Bass Lecture Hall
2300 Red River Street
Austin, TX 78712
How do you want to get there?
Agenda
-
Welcome Remarks
-
Keynote Speaker
Tom Falcone is President of the Large Public Power Council, an association of 29 of the largest not-for-profit public power systems in the United States. Together, LPPC members provide electricity to more than 30.5 million people across 23 states and territories. Before joining LPPC in 2024, Falcone served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Long Island Power Authority, the nation’s third-largest public power utility. During his tenure, LIPA increased grid investment by 300%, reduced outages by 40%, achieved top-tier reliability, and launched the nation’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm. LIPA also secured approval for $3.3 billion in transmission investments to integrate 3,000 megawatts of clean energy, deployed smart meters and opt-out time-of-day rates, earned four credit-rating upgrades, and reduced leverage by 25%, while keeping electric rate adjustments below inflation. Falcone is a past chair of LPPC and has served on the boards of the American
-
Panel
Powering the AI Buildout: Data Centers, Public Power, and the Municipal Market